The Fall of Nishumbha: Devi’s Wrath Unleashed

After Kali killed Chanda and Munda, an enraged Shumbha sent his entire massive army against Devi Chandika. A fierce battle ensued, as Chandika, accompanied by divine Shaktis emerging from various gods like Brahmani, Maheshwari, Kaumari, Vaishnavi, Varahi, Narasimhi, and Indrani, confronted the demon army. A powerful demon, Raktabija, complicated the battle, as his blood spawned countless warriors whenever it touched the ground. Devi commanded Kali (Chamunda) to swiftly consume every drop of his blood, preventing new asuras from emerging. Exhausted and bloodless, Raktabija fell. The devas rejoiced, marking a crucial turning point as Devi prepared for the final decisive battle.

Now the 9th chapter:

Shloka nos.1 and 2 -

ॐ राजोवाच ॥

विचित्रमिदमाख्यातं भगवन् भवता मम ।

देव्याश्चरितमाहात्म्यं रक्तबीजवधाश्रितम् ॥

Om. The king said: 

'O revered one, this wondrous narrative of Devi's glorious deeds related to the slaying of Raktabija has been narrated to me by you.'

Shloka no.3 -

भूयश्चेच्छाम्यहं श्रोतुं रक्तबीजे निपातिते ।

चकार शुम्भो यत्कर्म निशुम्भश्चातिकोपनः ॥

I wish to hear further about what Shumbha and the furious Nishumbha did after Raktabija was slain.

Shloka nos. 4 and 5 -

ऋषिरुवाच ॥

चकार कोपमतुलं रक्तबीजे निपातिते ।

शुम्भासुरो निशुम्भश्च हतेष्वन्येषु चाहवे ॥

After Raktabija was slain and the other warriors had fallen in battle, the demons Shumbha and Nishumbha were overcome with boundless fury.

Shloka no.6 -

हन्यमानं महासैन्यं विलोक्यामर्षमुद्वहन् ।

अभ्यधावन्निशुम्भोऽथ मुख्ययासुरसेनया ॥

Witnessing the destruction of their mighty army, Nishumbha, filled with rage, charged forward with his foremost troop of asuras.

Shloka no.7 -

तस्याग्रतस्तथा पृष्ठे पार्श्वयोश्च महासुराः ।

सन्दष्टौष्ठपुटाः क्रुद्धा हन्तुं देवीमुपाययुः ॥

In front, behind, and on both sides of him, furious Mahasuras advanced towards Devi, biting their lips in rage, eager to slay her.

Shloka no.8 -

आजगाम महावीर्यः शुम्भोऽपि स्वबलैर्वृतः ।

निहन्तुं चण्डिकां कोपात्कृत्वा युद्धं तु मातृभिः ॥

The mighty Shumbha also arrived, surrounded by his vast army. Filled with fury, he came to slay Chandika, engaging in fierce battle with the Matruganas.

Shloka no.9 -

ततो युद्धमतीवासीद्देव्या शुम्भनिशुम्भयोः ।

शरवर्षमतीवोग्रं मेघयोरिव वर्षतोः ॥ 

Then a fierce and intense battle erupted between Devi and the two demons, Shumbha and Nishumbha, arrows raining down violently like torrents from storm clouds.

Shloka no.10 -

चिच्छेदास्ताञ्छरांस्ताभ्यां चण्डिका स्वशरोत्करैः ।

ताडयामास चाङ्गेषु शस्त्रौघैरसुरेश्वरौ ॥

Chandika swiftly destroyed the arrows shot by the two demons with her own powerful shafts and fiercely struck the bodies of the Asura lords with a torrent of weapons.

Shloka no.11 -

निशुम्भो निशितं खड्गं चर्म चादाय सुप्रभम् ।

अताडयन्मूर्ध्नि सिंहं देव्या वाहनमुत्तमम् ॥

Nishumbha, wielding a shining, razor-sharp sword and shield, struck fiercely at the head of Devi's supreme vehicle, the lion.

Shloka no.12 -

ताडिते वाहने देवी क्षुरप्रेणासिमुत्तमम् ।

निशुम्भस्याशु चिच्छेद चर्म चाप्यष्टचन्द्रकम् ॥

Seeing her vehicle struck, Devi swiftly cut through Nishumbha’s superb sword and shield decorated with eight moons, using a razor-sharp arrow.

Shloka no.13 -

छिन्ने चर्मणि खड्गे च शक्तिं चिक्षेप सोऽसुरः ।

तामप्यस्य द्विधा चक्रे चक्रेणाभिमुखागताम् ॥

With his sword and shield destroyed, the furious asura hurled a powerful spear at Devi, but she quickly sliced it into two with her chakra as it flew towards her.

Shloka no.14 -

कोपाध्मातो निशुम्भोऽथ शूलं जग्राह दानवः ।

आयातं मुष्टिपातेन देवी तच्चाप्यचूर्णयत् ॥

Then Nishumbha, swelling with fury, seized a mighty trident. But as he hurled it fiercely toward Devi, she effortlessly shattered it with a single blow of her fist!

Shloka no.15 -

आविद्याथ गदां सोऽपि चिक्षेप चण्डिकां प्रति ।

सापि देव्यास् त्रिशूलेन भिन्ना भस्मत्वमागता ॥

Then Nishumbha, swinging his mace with tremendous force, hurled it fiercely at Chandika. But Devi swiftly pierced it with her trident, shattering it into ashes!

Shloka no.16 -

ततः परशुहस्तं तमायान्तं दैत्यपुङ्गवम् ।

आहत्य देवी बाणौघैरपातयत भूतले ॥

Then, as the mighty demon charged wielding an axe, Devi struck him relentlessly with a torrent of arrows, knocking him to the ground!

Shloka no.17 -

तस्मिन्निपतिते भूमौ निशुम्भे भीमविक्रमे ।

भ्रातर्यतीव सङ्क्रुद्धः प्रययौ हन्तुमम्बिकाम् ॥

When the fearsome Nishumbha fell lifeless to the ground, his brother Shumbha was overcome with intense rage and charged furiously toward Ambika, determined to slay her!

Shloka no. 18 -

स रथस्थस्तथात्युच्चैर्गृहीतपरमायुधैः ।

भुजैरष्टाभिरतुलैर्व्याप्याशेषं बभौ नभः ॥

Mounted on his chariot, Shumbha soared into the sky, brandishing supreme weapons in his mighty eight arms, appearing so immense that he filled the entire heavens!

Shloka no. 19 -

तमायान्तं समालोक्य देवी शङ्खमवादयत् ।

ज्याशब्दं चापि धनुषश्चकारातीव दुःसहम् ॥

Seeing him charge forward, Devi blew her conch, and the deafening twang of her bowstring filled the air, creating a sound unbearable to the enemies!

Shloka no. 20 -

पूरयामास ककुभो निजघण्टास्वनेन च ।

समस्तदैत्यसैन्यानां तेजोवधविधायिना ॥

She filled all directions with the resounding peal of her bell, draining the brilliance and strength of the entire Daitya army!

Shloka no. 21 -

ततः सिंहो महानादैस्त्याजितेभमहामदैः ।

पूरयामास गगनं गां तथैव दिशो दश ॥

Then, Devi's lion roared thunderously, shattering the arrogance of the mighty elephants, filling the sky, earth, and all ten directions with its deafening sound!

Shloka no.22 -

ततः काली समुत्पत्य गगनं क्ष्मामताडयत् ।

कराभ्यां तन्निनादेन प्राक्स्वनास्ते तिरोहिताः ॥

Then Kali leaped into the sky and struck the earth with her hands. The thunderous sound she created drowned out all previous echoes!

Shloka no. 23

अट्टाट्टहासमशिवं शिवदूती चकार ह ।

वैः शब्दैरसुरास्त्रेसुः शुम्भः कोपं परं ययौ ॥

Shivadooti let out a dreadful, bone-chilling laughter. The terrifying sound struck fear into the asuras, while Shumbha was consumed by immense rage!

Shloka no. 24 -

दुरात्मंस्तिष्ठ तिष्ठेति व्याजहाराम्बिका यदा ।

तदा जयेत्यभिहितं देवैराकाशसंस्थितैः ॥

When Ambika thundered, ‘Stay, you wicked one! Stand and fight!’ the gods watching from the heavens proclaimed, ‘Victory!’

Shloka no. 25 -

शुम्भेनागत्य या शक्तिर्मुक्ता ज्वालातिभीषणा ।

आयान्ती वह्निकूटाभा सा निरस्ता महोल्कया ॥

The blazing, terrifying Shakti that Shumbha hurled at Devi, shining like a massive firestorm, was countered and destroyed by a great meteor-like flare!

Shloka no. 26 -

सिंहनादेन शुम्भस्य व्याप्तं लोकत्रयान्तरम् ।

निर्घातनिःस्वनो घोरो जितवानवनीपते ॥

Shumbha's roar thundered through all three worlds, its terrifying echo like a crashing storm, as if he had already claimed victory, O King!

Shloka no. 27 -

शुम्भमुक्ताञ्छरान्देवी शुम्भस्तत्प्रहिताञ्छरान् ।

चिच्छेद स्वशरैरुग्रैः शतशोऽथ सहस्रशः ॥

Devi shattered the arrows hurled by Shumbha, while he, in turn, cut down hers with his own fierce arrows, by the hundreds and thousands!

Shloka no. 28 -

ततः सा चण्डिका क्रुद्धा शूलेनाभिजघान तम् ।

स तदाभिहतो भूमौ मूर्च्छितो निपपात ह ॥

Then, the enraged Chandika struck Shumbha with her trident. Hit by the mighty blow, he collapsed unconscious onto the ground!

Shloka no. 29 -

ततो निशुम्भः सम्प्राप्य चेतनामात्तकार्मुकः ।

आजघान शरैर्देवीं कालीं केसरिणं तथा ॥

Then Nishumbha regained consciousness, seized his bow, and attacked fiercely, showering arrows upon Devi, Kali, and her lion!

Shloka no. 30 -

पुनश्च कृत्वा बाहूनामयुतं दनुजेश्वरः ।

चक्रायुधेन दितिजश्छादयामास चण्डिकाम् ॥

Once more, the demon king multiplied his arms to ten thousand and, wielding a discus, engulfed Chandika in a storm of weapons!

Shloka no. 31-

ततो भगवती क्रुद्धा दुर्गा दुर्गार्तिनाशिनी ।

चिच्छेद देवी चक्राणि स्वशरैः सायकांश्च तान् ॥

Then the enraged Bhagavati Durga, the destroyer of all distress, swiftly shattered the demon’s discuses and arrows with her own fierce shafts!

Shloka no. 32 -

ततो निशुम्भो वेगेन गदामादाय चण्डिकाम् ।

अभ्यधावत वै हन्तुं दैत्यसैन्यसमावृतः ॥

Then Nishumbha, seizing his mace with great speed, charged toward Chandika to strike her down, surrounded by his demon army!

Shloka no. 33 -

तस्यापतत एवाशु गदां चिच्छेद चण्डिका ।

खड्गेन शितधारेण स च शूलं समाददे ॥

As he charged, Chandika swiftly sliced his mace apart with her razor-sharp sword. Undeterred, he immediately seized a powerful trident!'

Shloka no. 34 -

शूलहस्तं समायान्तं निशुम्भममरार्दनम् ।

हृदि विव्याध शूलेन वेगाविद्धेन चण्डिका ॥

As Nishumbha, the tormentor of the gods, charged forward with his trident, Chandika swiftly hurled her own trident with immense force, piercing his heart!

Shloka no. 35 -

भिन्नस्य तस्य शूलेन हृदयान्निःसृतोऽपरः ।

महाबलो महावीर्यस्तिष्ठेति पुरुषो वदन् ॥

From Nishumbha’s heart, which had been pierced by the trident, emerged another mighty and powerful being, proclaiming, ’Stop and fight!’

Shloka no. 36 -

तस्य निष्क्रामतो देवी प्रहस्य स्वनवत्ततः ।

शिरश्चिच्छेद खड्गेन ततोऽसावपतद्भुवि ॥

As he emerged, Devi laughed thunderously and instantly severed his head with her sword. He fell lifeless to the ground!

Shloka no. 37 -

ततः सिंहश्चखादोग्रदंष्ट्राक्षुण्णशिरोधरान् ।

असुरांस्तांस्तथा काली शिवदूती तथापरान् ॥

Then the lion tore apart the asuras, crushing their heads and bodies with its fierce fangs, while Kali and Shivadooti devoured the rest!

Shloka no. 38 -

कौमारीशक्तिनिर्भिन्नाः केचिन्नेशुर्महासुराः ।

ब्रह्माणीमन्त्रपूतेन तोयेनान्ये निराकृताः ॥

Some mighty asuras, pierced by Kaumari’s spear, fell lifeless, while others were driven away by Brahmani’s sacred, mantra-infused water!

Shloka no. 39 -

माहेश्वरीत्रिशूलेन भिन्नाः पेतुस्तथापरे ।

वाराहीतुण्डघातेन केचिच्चूर्णीकृता भुवि ॥

Some were struck down by Maheshwari’s trident, while others were crushed to dust by the powerful blows of Varahi’s snout!

Shloka no. 40 -

खण्डं खण्डं च चक्रेण वैष्णव्या दानवाः कृताः ।

वज्रेण चैन्द्रीहस्ताग्रविमुक्तेन तथापरे ॥

Some demons were sliced into pieces by Vaishnavi’s discus, while others were shattered by Indrani’s thunderbolt, hurled from her mighty hand!

Shloka no. 41 -

केचिद्विनेशुरसुराः केचिन्नष्टा महाहवात् ।

भक्षिताश्चापरे कालीशिवदूतीमृगाधिपैः ॥

Some asuras perished, some vanished from the great battle, while others were devoured by Kali, Shivadooti, and the mighty lion!

॥ स्वस्ति श्रीमार्कण्डेयपुराणे सावर्णिके मन्वन्तरे देवीमाहात्म्ये निशुम्भवधो नाम नवमोऽध्यायः ॥

Thus ends the ninth chapter, titled The Slaying of Nishumbha, in the Devi Mahatmyam of the Markandeya Purana, within the Savarni Manvantara.

In the fierce battle, Nishumbha struck Devi’s lion, but she swiftly countered his attacks, shattering his weapons. As he charged with a mace, she destroyed it and pierced his heart with her trident. From his body, another powerful form emerged, but Devi laughed and decapitated him instantly. Kali, Shivadooti, and the Matruganas slaughtered the remaining asuras - some were torn apart, others were crushed, and many were devoured. The devas rejoiced as the mighty Nishumbha fell. With his death, the battle moved toward its climax, with only Shumbha left to face Devi’s wrath.

Ramaswamy Sastry and Vighnesh Ghanapaathi